I doubt anyone else has had this problem, because the Apple Rep I talked to said that I was his first experience with this and that amazed me. In the midst of turning my iPhone to silent mode, my silver silent key decides to just pop off.
So now I can't turn my phone on silent. I am driving THREE HOURS tomorrow just to get a new phone. I don't understand why there can not be an Apple Store closer, or why the AT&T Reps just won't do it.